Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Friends & Family!

Time has gotten away from me (as always it seems), and this little update will have to suffice as this year's Christmas card.

I feel a little guilty as I type in the same room as all the lovely Christmas Cards I have received thus far ~ I love them all, and they make me happy every time I look at them:)  Hopefully next year I'll be better!

Ansley- She has grown to be quite the little chatterbox and has become accustomed to talking more since Avery began Pre-k in August.  In fact, if she is not talking as much as she'd like (due to big sis) She will say, "Mom, Mom, tell Avey my turn talk!!!" & as of late she has resorted to nudging her sister and saying, "cut out Avey, I talk now!"  She loves to do handstands on the walls with big sis, read Eric Carle books, and color.  I love listening to her count to 18 and how from 18 she cycles back to 9, 10, 11... (I'll correct her eventually) Also her version of the end of the alphabet cracks me up every time.  She concludes, "t, u, v, double x, a-ans-lee."  It makes me sad that she is not my little baby anymore although she does still request that I "rocka" her before bed every night!

Avery- Avery & Ansley spent lots of time in the spring with Mommy attending playgroups and doing lots of fun activities around Little Rock.  In the summer we could often be found at the pool and Avery participated in our neighborhood pool's swim team.  She was the youngest swimmer who swam without floaties.  After breaking her leg in April this was the perfect rehab!!!  In August she started Pre-K and has thrived in school.  Joey and I just knew we'd get calls frequently from her teachers because of talking too much, bossiness, & stubbornness.  At our first conference we were told just the opposite.  Her teacher even told me, "What I could do with a class full of Avery's!!!" & "She always listens and does what she's told & is nice to all the kids."  In fact they did an activity on sharing where the kids had to fill in these blanks, I can share_____ with ______.  She told me 90% of the kids put Avery in the blank of who to share with!!!!  I got teary eyed.  I don't mean to brag, its just been a total transformation.  If you knew how often her Sunbeam teachers at church had to come get me, you'd know what this meant!!!!  She is becoming quite the little lady & it makes me so happy:)  Plus, we love Fair Park and the awesome teachers there!!!!

Mommy- In March, I got to have a girls weekend with friends.  We drove up to Fayetteville, AR and I ran my 3rd half marathon!  It was the worst (as in toughest) course ever and we all concurred that we wouldn't do that course again!  Joey has been super busy with school this year and so while he was at a research conference (in Denver, CO) I took the girls to my parents and met up with a bunch of my high school girl friends and their kids. We had a fun afternoon together catching up.  In June, the girls and I flew to DC and visited my sister in Lancaster, PA.  She treated us to many fun activities including Dutch Wonderland, DC Cupcakes, and the Lancaster Farmers Market.  We had a great time!  Then in August, while Joey was at another research conference (this time in Park City, UT) we drove out to Georgia to visit his parents, and all the aunts and uncles.  We also went back to TX for a weekend to send off my little brother on his 2 year church mission to Toronto, Canada.  I can not believe he is old enough to be on a mission!  We took a last minute trip to GA  for Thanksgiving and had a nice time including our traditional black Friday all nighter!

Daddy- Daddy has been busy, busy, busy!  He has attended 4 research conferences this year in Denver, CO, Park City, UT, San Jose, CA, and Starkville, MS.  He completed and passed his Qualifier in August (whew!) and is on his way to graduation! (well still a couple years away)  The biggest news we've recently received is that he will have his first, 1st author publication that will be published in the scientific journal Cellular Microbiology in print in April and online in Jan!!!!!! Amidst all this he was called as the Stake Young Men's President and had a lot of fun organizing and participating in Youth Conference this summer & they have plans for a Nauvoo YC next year!

2012 has been a good year & we hope it has for you all as well! In Feb. 2013 we are excited to be welcoming a baby BOY into the Graham House!!!!  We CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Love you all and Hope you have a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Birthday Girls

A little late, but can't believe how grown up my babies are...  LOVE THEM SO MUCH!

       Little Miss Sunshine - 2 weeks old

Now - 2 years old (7-28-12)

 

& "Our Diva" - 1 week old   

                                                  

NOW 5 years old  (9-8-12)

Where has the time gone?!?!?!

New Stuff

I really want to get back into the blogging world!  I've missed it.  After our crazy summer- Joey submitting his proposal, preparing for the oral part of his Qualifier, presenting at a research conference in Park City, UT, finishing up some projects for a paper, & I had been babysitting a little boy up until the end of July (I did it for 8 months), pregnancy sick and exhausted- not to mention Joey was juggling 2 demanding callings until a week ago.  I developed a whole new level of respect for single mothers and more appreciation than I already had for all Joey's help! Ok now enough complaining cause this week has been a breath of fresh air!  I feel like this is the start of a new phase in our life!  

Firstly-Joey passed his Qualifier earlier this month and NEVER has to take another course for the rest of his PhD career.  Now its hardcore research time(which he loves so he is SUPER excited the course part has come to an end!)  His induction ceremony is in September and he will get his white UAMS lab coat!  We're pretty proud of him!

Next- We are excited to announce that BABY #3 will be joining us in February and I was able to get in with an AWESOME high risk Dr. here. It has really put me at ease and I feel really good about things:)  The girls are beyond EXCITED and now that Avery knows, she has been much more sympathetic to my tiredness and not as short with me about being "slower."  Ansley is always wanting to raise up my shirt and says, "Baby"!

& My baby girl started Pre-K!  & while it may not seem like a Super big deal, it is because here Pre-K is all day.  Joey and I went back and forth on this decision for a while; we considered Preschools that are only 1/2 day and other 3 days a week options BUT with her birthday causing her to miss the deadline for Kindergarten by 8 days we decided to do full time.  She has been begging for school and this week has been such a success.  It has made me so happy to see her excitement to go, get things 'perfectly' ready to go, and all the stories she has to tell me when I pick her up!  

First Day of School

On Day 2 Here are 2 conversations we had in the car on the way home:

Avery: Mom, I was really tired today so I said a little prayer that I would fall asleep during nap time and I did.  Heavenly Father answered my prayer Mom.

Me: Avery that's so good, if you are ever needing help with anything know you can always turn to Heavenly Father.  *I was feeling pretty proud at this point*

Then...

Avery: Mom, I also made a new friend at school today.

Me:  That's great, what is Her name?

Avery:  No, mom- His name is Eli. and he hugged and kissed me then told me, "we're going to be Best Friends!"

Me: (trying not to freak out-we're only on DAY 2) Oh well where did he kiss you?

Avery: on the cheek

Me:  ok ( and I decided to drop it at that point) I was caught off guard and didn't want to make it a big deal/say something wrong/over react, etc..- What would you have done?!?!?! I decided to wait for my better half to get home.

When Joey got home she recited the same story to him and he asked her if she kissed him back.  She told us she did but just on the cheek.  Joey told her very calmly that she should just give hugs and only kiss Mommy, Daddy, Granma & Granpa.  Avery then asked, "but Why? you kiss Mommy?"  Are we really having this convo with a Pre-ker?!?!  Joey and I replied at the same time but with different answers. 

Joey: you don't kiss other boys until you're 16

Me: you don't kiss other boys until you're married

She said, "Oh,  OK."

I think she got the gist of it:) (at least I'm hoping)

This is a pic Eli drew her

 A pic she drew of her and Eli- is this beginning already?!?!

& a project they worked on today at school.

They cut some of their favorite things out of a magazine- 

I wasn't surprised to see makeup, flowers, and yummy desserts on her paper!

She proudly laid out all her work for me to see after school today.

& Lastly, Ansley and Mommy are enjoying a lot of one on one time together!  While we enjoy play dates with friends as well, Ansley has proved to be quite the little helper.  She is really good at helping me unload the dishwasher, press the buttons to start it and put clothes from the washer to the dryer.  She does tell me at least once a day, "I want Avey!" and when I tell her it is time to pick up Avery she lets out a shrill of delight and races down to the car!  

We have been looking forward to this day since she broke her leg on Good Friday &

After being "layed up" for the past 3 1/2 weeks we are happy to report that our Avery is...

CAST FREE!

 We have been celebrating! 

What we didn't know was that our sweet lil Ansley could be so dramatic?!?!

I guess she was feeling a little attention deprived (really how could that ever be?) She came to me very concerned, and pathetically uttered, "mama, look (well it sounds more like uk)" to show me a very small blister on her foot.

I tried not to chuckle cause I knew exactly what was going on.

Joey and I carefully wrapped her blister until she approved. 

  Then she happily hopped right up and did what she's seen sister do.

 What am I going to do with these girls?!?!?!

**Avery did inform her that the only good thing about having a cast was that it was pink and her friends signed it.

 On another note I feel pretty bad...

The whole time Avery had her cast, she complained about her heel.  I kept asking if it was in pain or uncomfortable. She would say both, but go back and forth.  We finally shoved a butter knife down in the cast and kept it in there because she said it felt best.  I felt pretty horrible when we found this blister after the cast came off:(  No wonder she complained about her heel... Poor girl!

Best Friends

A few weeks ago as I got off the phone with a best friend from high school, Avery asked me who I was talking to. 

(she has to know EVERYTHING)

Our conversation continued a little longer and then I asked Avery who her Best Friend was; without hesitation she replied: "oh mom that's easy, Ansley."

She has asked me multiple times this week, "when is Ansley going to wake up from her nap? I want her to play with me."

I can't put into words how happy this makes me :)